The All Jamaica Composite Index surged sharply by more than 3,100 points shortly before the close of trading on Monday to a new intraday high of 205,169.41, but closed with a gain of 2,311.21 points, to end at a new record close of 204,248.09 to be up by 22 percent for the year to date.
The JSE Market Index jumped 2,066.63 points to finish at a record 187,008.67. The JSE combined index ballooned by 3,136.04 points to first time to end at close above the 200,000 points level for the first time to a record 200,132.17 but closed trading up 2,361.91 points to a record close of 199,358.04, with gain for the year to date, of 26 percent.
Market activity ended with 36 securities changing hands, at the close, the prices of 20 stocks gained while 7 declined in the overall market, including 9 stocks rising and 2 falling, in the junior market.
Grace Kennedy was by far the leading trade with 7,715,941 units with a value of $877.98 million to end at $40, after falling 99 cents.
At the close with 15,872,231 units valued at $373,022,747 changed hands, compared to 7,137,871 units valued at $101,431,149 changing hands on Friday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 5,515,300 units changing hands, valued at $26,556,207.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 347,644 shares compared to an average of 178,088 units traded on Friday. The average for the month to date ends at 248,915 shares compared to an average of 150,187 units for the month up to Friday. November ended with an average of 208,466 units.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 9 with lower offers.
In market activity, Berger Paints traded 15,000 shares and but lost 10 cents to end at $5.60, Cable & Wireless had 559,968 units trading as the price slipped 10 cents to end at 80 cents, after it traded as high as 95 cents. Caribbean Cement traded with a gain of $1 while trading 8,112 shares at $36, Carreras exchanged 12,897 shares at $66, Investors traded 10,500 shares of 1834 Investments to close at $1.35. Jamaica Broilers ended trading with 30,000 units with a rise of 5 cents at $15.05. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 159,308 shares, to end at $5.60, JMMB Group traded 31,193 shares and rose 31 cents to close at $13.86. 
Kingston Wharves traded 12,647 shares and gained 10 cents to $19.60. Mayberry Investments ended trading 733,287 shares, to close with a fall of 15 cents at $5.50, National Commercial Bank rose 49 cents and ended at $49.49 with 2,090 shares changing hands, PANJAM Investment traded 42,132 shares to close at $26.98, Sagicor Group closed with 132,469 shares changing hands to end 2 cents lower at $27.03. Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 16,981 units to close with a gain of 5 cents at $10.95, Scotia Group with 718,493 shares changing hands closed at $34, Scotia Investments jumped $2.99 with 12,500 units changing hands to close at $33.49 and Supreme Ventures rose 15 cents to end at $5, with 143,313 units changing hands.
Jamaica’s 2016 inflation lowest in decades
‘Vegetables and Starchy Foods’ had a strong impact on November price movement.
Price movements as measured by the consumer index amounts to just 1.7 percent compared to the November 2015. Inflation for the fiscal year-to-date registered an increase of 2.8 percent.
The price movement in November this year, is mainly as a result of a 0.5 percent rise in Food and Non Alcoholic Beverages and a 0.7 per cent increase in Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division. Higher prices for vegetables and starchy foods and a rise in the cost of electricity were items that were most impactful.
Five for one stock split for AMG
AMG Packaging to split stock by 5.
The move by AMG continues a trend that has been seen since Lasco companies split their stocks 10 units for each one issued in 2013, continuing with Jamaican Teas early in 2016 and a string of others since, which have all helped in increasing the value of the shares. Investors are betting that the same will happen here as they responded to the announcement on Thursday, driving the price up by $3 in exchanging 7,999 shares at $21.50. The announcement confirms an earlier report by IC Insiders’ that the company was set to split the stock.
For investors to benefit fully from a rising stock price, the company will need to improve on its 2016 results of $83 million or 81 cents per share, with the start-up of the tissue operation, dragging profits down by $41 million as a result of start-up and operating cost and sales of tissue paper of only $2.3 million.
If approved at the Annual General Meeting, the issued capital of the company will move from 102,378,857 shares to 511,894,285 with the authorised capital jumping from 140,000,000 shares to 700,000,000. The split is to allow for greater liquidity in the shares as the stock has been trading infrequently.
The 2016 results saw a major improvement in cost of sales which fell from $483 million to $451 million and includes cost of inventories expensed of $320 million and $380 million in 2015. The cost of inventories recognized as an expense includes $33 million and in 2015, $54 million in respect of write -downs of inventories to net realisable value.
Jamaican stocks just short of 202,000
Mayberry closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $5.65.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index jumped 1,421.02 points to end at 201,936.88, the index recorded gains of 21 percent for the year to date. The JSE Market Index climbed 1,270.64 points to finish at a record 184,942.04. The JSE combined index climbed 919.08 points to end at a record 196,996.13, with a gain for the year to date of 24 percent.
At the close with 7,137,871 units valued at $101,431,149 changed hands, compared to 4,593,992 units valued at $80,066,072 changing hands on Thursday. Of the stocks traded, the junior market accounted for 3,219,929 units changing hands, valued at $16,494,089.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 178,088 shares compared to an average of 140,477 units traded on Thursday. The average for the month to date ends at 150,187 shares compared to an average of 122,285 units for the month up to Thursday. November ended with an average of 208,466 units.IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 15 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita Investments traded 50,000 shares and gained 30 cents to end at $5.80, Cable & Wireless had 220,000 units trading as the price gained 5 cents to end at 90 cents, Carreras exchanged 19,885 shares at $66, Investors traded 72,831 shares of 1834 Investments to close at $1.2. Grace Kennedy recovered the $3.99 it lost on Thursday, while trading 9,484 shares to close at $40.99, Jamaica Broilers ended trading with 151,149 units with a rise of 80 cents at $15. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 60,819 shares, to end at $5.60, JMMB Group traded 500,000 shares and shed 30 cents to close at $13.55. Margaritaville Turks traded 32,220 shares to close at 24.90 US cents after rising by 0.03 cent, Mayberry Investments ended trading 97,155 shares, to close with a rise of 70 cents at at 52 weeks’ high of $5.65, National Commercial Bank ended at $49 with 438,733 shares changing hands.
138 Student Living lost 50 cents in trading 607,162 shares at $4.50, PANJAM Investment gained 98 cents, while trading 183,299 shares to close at $26.98, Sagicor Group closed with 185,900 shares changing hands to end 25 cents lower at $27.05. Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 5,620 units at $10.90, Scotia Group with 126,594 shares changing hands closed at $34, Scotia Investments rose 50 cents with 1,100,891 units changing hands to close at $30.50, Supreme Ventures rose 5 cents to end at $4.85, with 2,000 units changing hands and Proven Investments ordinary share traded 45,900 units at 20.99 US cents, up from 20.5 US cents.
Juniors back off from record – Friday
Caribbean Flavours hit a new high of $11.95 on Friday
At the close, the prices of 5 stocks rose, 2 declined with just 9 securities trading, compared to 19 trading on Thursday. The volume of stocks traded jumped on Friday by 163 percent, from Thursday’s level, ending with 3,219,929 units changing hands, valued at $16,494,089, up 186 percent from $5,774,823 on Thursday.
Market activities ended with 10 securities
closing with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 4 ending with lower offers.An average of 357,770 units with an average value of $1,832,677 units traded, compared to 64,345 units with an average value of $303,938 on the preceding trading day. The average for December to date is 122,044 units, at an average of $576,756. The average for December to Thursday is 100,614 units, at an average of $462,581. November ended with an average of 109,679 units with an average value of $607,092.
Caribbean Flavours traded 20,512 units to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $11 with a gain of 1 cent and traded as high as $11.95 during the trading session, Caribbean Producers closed with 444 shares changing hands with a gain of 5 cents, at $3.25,
C2W Music with 10,393 units changing hands, closed unchanged at 35 cents. Derrimon Trading exchanged 675 shares and closed at $3.55 after falling by 35 cents. Jetcon Corporation closed trading with 60,000 units, the price rose 1 cent to end at $5.89, Lasco Distributors had 212,610 shares trading with a fall of 40 cents to close at $6.40. Lasco Manufacturing ended at $5.05 with a rise of 5 cents after 2,898,885 shares changed hands, Medical Disposables traded 15,410 shares with a rise of 60 cents to close at $4.80 and Eppley 9.5% preference share traded 1,000 units at $6.18.
Record close for junior stocks – Thursday
The junior market surged sharply on Thursday, by 79.65 points end at a record closing high of 2,505.83, to be up a strong 40 percent, for the year to date, on increased trading activity from Wednesday’s levels.
At the close, the prices of 10 stocks rose and 3 declined with 19 securities trading, compared to 13 trading on Wednesday. The volume of stocks traded jumped on Thursday by 365 percent, from Wednesday’s level, ending with 1,222,548 units changing hands, valued at $5,774,823, up 368 percent from $1,233,984 on Wednesday.
Market activities ended with 9 securities closing with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 5 ending with lower offers.
An average of 20,207 units with an average value of $94,922 units with an average value of $303,938 traded, compared to 20,207 units with an average value of $94,922 on the preceding trading day. The average for December to date is 100,614 units, at an average of $462,581. The average for December to Wednesday is 104,241 units, at an average of $478,446. November ended with an average of 109,679 units with an average value of $607,092.
In trading activity, AMG Packaging jumped $3 in exchanging 7,999 shares at $21.50 as investors responded to an announcement by the company, of an approval by the Directors, for each ordinary share of the company be subdivided into five units. If approved at the Annual General Meeting to be held in January, the issued capital of the company will move from 102,378,857 shares to 511,894,285.
Caribbean Producers closed with 68,285 shares changing hands at $3.20, Consolidated Bakeries rose 16 cents in trading 60,000 shares to close at $1.85, C2W Music inched up 5 cents with 2,000 units changing hands to close at 35 cents, Derrimon Trading exchanged 5,000 shares and closed at $3.70. Dolphin Cove with 200 units changing hands closed at $15. General Accident traded 16,492 shares but fell 15 cents to close at $3, Honey Bun had 12,300 shares changing hands to close at $6 after rising 40 cents. Iron Rock Insurance traded 1,000 shares at $4.15, Jamaican Teas gained 14 cents to end at $4.25 with 16,000 shares.
Jetcon Corporation closed trading with 2,290 units, with a loss of 1 cent to end at $5.88, Key Insurance traded 4,193 units to close at $3, KLE Group ended at $1.95 with 500 shares changing hands after rising by 10 cents, Lasco Distributors had 10,000 shares trading with a rise of 30 cents to close at $6.80. Lasco Financial ended with 15,000 shares changing hands at $3.25, Lasco Manufacturing ended at $4.99 with a rise of 29 cents after 964,839 shares changed hands, Medical Disposables traded 700, shares with a rise of 50 cents to close at $4.20. Paramount Trading lost 20 cents with 34,283 units changing hands to close at $3 and Eppley 10% preference share traded 667 units with a rise of 65 cents to a new high of $6.75.
Jamaican stocks sink below 201k at close
At the close of trading on Wednesday, the Jamaica Stock Exchange broke back below the 201,000 level with the All Jamaica Composite Index ending with just over 1,000 points. Market activity ended with 38 securities changing hands with the prices of 12 stocks ended with gains while 13 declined in the overall market, including 2 stocks rising and 5 falling, in the junior market.
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index dropped 1,074.66 points to end at 200,612.14, the index recorded gains of 20.5 percent for the year to date. The JSE Market Index fell 960.94 points to finish at 183,688.05. The JSE combined index dived 1,499.63 points to end at 195,273.80, with a gain for the year to date of 24.3 percent.
At the close with 9,349,308 units valued at $92,313,081 changed hands, compared to 2,284,709 units valued at $18,900,534 changing hands on Tuesday. The junior market accounted for 262,692 units changing hands, valued at $1,233,984 of the stocks traded.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 363,465 shares compared to an average of 80,125 units traded on Tuesday with the average for the month to date being 245,763 units compared to 104,093 units for the month up to Tuesday. November ended with an average of 208,466 units.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 16 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
In market activity, Cable & Wireless gained 3 cents in trading 39,312 units at 85 cents, Caribbean Cement lost $2 in trading 140,565 shares, to close at $34.01, Carreras exchanged 10,411 shares at $66, Grace Kennedy traded 2,260 shares to close with a loss of 1 cent at $40.99. Jamaica Broilers ended trading with 17,277 units with a loss of 15 cents at $14.50, Jamaica Producers closed at $9.24 with 95,464 shares changing hands, after gaining 4 cents. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 38,460 shares, to end with a rise of 4 cents at $5.46, JMMB Group traded 13,641 shares and rose 95 cents to close at $13.50. Mayberry Investments ended trading 46,040 shares, to close with a loss of 50 cents at $5, National Commercial Bank climbed 50 cents and ended at $49.50 with 763,302 shares changing hands, PANJAM Investment jumped by $1, trading 85,830 shares to close at $25.50, Portland JSX traded 49,987 units at $11. Radio Jamaica traded 244,523 units while falling 3 cents to close at $1.20, Sagicor Group closed with 833,053 shares changing hands to end at $27, 
Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 99,591 units at $10.24, Scotia Group shed 53 cents, with 57,089 shares changing hands, to close at $33.57. Seprod jumped $1.68 and ended at $30 with 6,805 units changing hands, Supreme Ventures lost 1 cents and ended at $4.70, with 610,614 units changing hands, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 213,321 units at 20 US cents, JMMB Group 6% preference share traded 15,000 shares at $1.10, the 7.5 percent instrument closed at $1.06 with 5,647,905 units and Proven 8% Preference share traded 40,000 shares with a loss of 5 cents at $4.95.
Junior market drops sharply – Wednesday
The junior market dropped sharply on Wednesday, by 59.20 points close at 2,426.18 to be up 35 percent for the year to date with reduced volume from Tuesday’s levels.
At the close the prices of 2 stocks rose and 5 declined with 13 securities trading, compared to 14 on Tuesday. The volume of stocks traded dipped on Wednesday by 27 percent, from Tuesday’s level, ending with 262,692 units changing hands, valued at $1,233,984, down 30 percent from $1,755,268 on Tuesday.
Market activities ended with 11 securities closing with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 5 ending with lower offers.
An average of 20,207 units with an average value of $94,922 traded, compared to 25,837 units with an average value of $125,376 on the preceding trading day. The average for December to date is 104,241 units, at an average of $478,446. The average for December to Tuesday is 113,578 units, at an average of $521,060. November ended with an average of 109,679 units with an average value of $607,092.
In trading activity, Cargo Handlers traded 17,225 shares and fell 24 cents to close at $13.01, Caribbean Cream jumped 45 cents to $7.95 with 3,000 shares being exchanged, Caribbean Producers shed 5 cents with 20,000 shares changing hands at $3.20, Derrimon Trading exchanged 1,000 shares and closed at $3.70 after dropping $1.18. Dolphin Cove fell 20 cents with 1,784 units changing hands to close at $15,
Honey Bun had 48,040 shares changing hands to close at $5.60. Jetcon Corporation closed trading with 200 units to end at $5.89, Key Insurance traded 13,157 units to close with a rise of 50 cents at $3, Lasco Distributors had 4,200 shares trading with a loss of 30 cents to close at $6.50. Lasco Financial ended with 31,270 shares changing hands at $3.25, Lasco Manufacturing ended at $4.70 with 30,929 shares changing hands, Paramount Trading lost 18 cents with 87,937 units changing hands to close at $3.20 and Eppley 9.5% preference share traded 3,950 units at $6.18.
Jamaican stocks break 201K at close
Mayberry closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $5.50
At the close the All Jamaica Composite Index gained 804.58 points to end at 201,686.80, the index recorded gains of 20.5 percent for the year to date. The JSE Market Index rose 962.45 points to finish at 184,648.99. The JSE combined index surged 1,262.68 points to end at 196,773.43, with a gain for the year to date of 24.3 percent.
At the close with 2,284,709 units valued at $18,900,534 changed hands, compared to 3,151,271 units valued at $45,655,245 changing hands on Monday. The junior market accounted for 361,716 units changing hands, valued at $1,755,268 of the stocks traded.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 80,125 shares compared to an average of 85,208 units traded on Monday with the average for the month to date being 104,093 units compared to 128,061 units for the month up to Monday. November ended with an average of 208,466 units.In market activity, Berger Paints gained 25 cents and closed at $5.60 with 445,016 shares trading, Cable & Wireless gained 6 cents, in trading 8,688 units, at 82 cents, Caribbean Cement lost 44 cents in trading 2,758 shares, to close at $36.01, Carreras exchanged 3,500 shares at $66. Investors traded 146,422 shares of 1834 Investments with a loss of 5 cents, to close at $1.25, Grace Kennedy traded 54,445 shares to close with a loss of 10 cents at $41, Jamaica Broilers ended trading with 51,620 units, to close at $14.65, Jamaica Producers closed at $9.20 with 31,595 shares changing hands, after falling 5 cent. Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 114,550 shares, to end with a rise of 6 cents at $5.42, JMMB Group traded 27,146 shares and fell $1.25 to close at $12.55, Mayberry Investments ended trading 43,333 shares, to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $5.50, after rising by 55 cents. National Commercial Bank jumped $1 and ended at $49 with 4,395 shares changing hands,
PANJAM Investment traded 253,310 shares to close at $24.50, Radio Jamaica traded 137,260 units while rising 3 cents to close at $1.23. Pulse Investments traded 13,523 shares at $3.90, Radio Jamaica closed at $1.23 with 447,189 shares, Sagicor Group closed with 13,000 shares changing hands to end with a rise of 95 cents at $27, Scotia Group gained 54 cents, with 33,567 shares changing hands, to close at $34.10. Scotia Investments ended at $33 with 14,718 shares being traded, Seprod gained 31 cents and ended at $28.32 with 10,217 units changing hands and JMMB Group 6 percent preference share traded 38,000 shares at $1.10 and the 7.5 percent instrument closed at US$1.06 with 146,068 units.
Juniors set up for new high – Tuesday
Caribbean Flavours hit a new high of $10.95 on Tuesday
With today’s movement of the index, the junior market is up 39 percent for the year to date.
At the close the prices of 6 stocks rose and 5 declined with 14 securities trading, compared to 12 on Monday. The volume of stocks traded dipped on Tuesday by 65 percent, from Monday’s level, ending with 361,716 units changing hands, valued at $1,755,268, down 67 percent from $5,305,996 on Monday.
Market activities ended with 12 securities closing with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 5 ending with lower offers.An average of 25,837 units with an average value of $125,376 traded, compared to 102,106 units with an average value of $530,600 on the preceding trading day. The average for December to date is 113,578 units, at an average of $521,060. The average for December to Monday is 124,545 units, at an average of $570,520. November ended with an average of 109,679 units with an average value of $607,092.
In trading activity, AMG Packaging traded 160 shares and gained 20 cents to close at $18.20, Caribbean Flavours jumped $1 to a 52 weeks high of $10.95 with 3,000 shares exchanged, Caribbean Producers shed 5 cents with 13,831 shares changing hands at $3.20, Consolidated Bakeries traded 2,000 shares and closed at $1.70 after dropping 45 cents. C2W Music inched up 1 cent with 9,657 units changing hands to close at 30 cents, General Accident gained 45 cents and closed trading with 73,605 units, at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.15,
Honey Bun had 44,715 shares changing hands to close with a loss of 35 cents at $5.60. Iron Rock Insurance traded 23,000 units as the price rose 15 cents to $4.15, Jetcon Corporation closed trading with 11,896 units but lost 1 cents to end at $5.89, Key Insurance traded 31,512 units to close at $2.50, Lasco Distributors had 127,200 shares at $6.80. Lasco Manufacturing gained 10 cents and ended at $4.70 with 1,000 shares changing hands and Paramount Trading lost 2 cents with 20,000 units changing hands to close at $3.38.